Blackhawks 2, Ducks 0
Corey Crawford made 29 saves for his ninth career shutout as visiting Chicago pulled within a point of Anaheim for the league's best record.
Marian Hossa scored in the first minute of the second period and set up a late tally by captain Jonathan Toews as the Blackhawks sent the Ducks to their third consecutive loss - all at home - in a matchup of the NHL's two highest-scoring teams. Crawford set the tone with 15 saves in the first period en route to his first shutout of the season.
Jonas Hiller turned aside 23 shots in falling to 1-5-0 in his last six starts for Anaheim, which was shut out for the second time in three games after it had not been blanked in the first four months of the season. It was the fifth home loss in seven games for the Ducks, who started the season by going 20-0-2 at the Honda Center.
The Blackhawks were on their heels for much of the opening 20 minutes, but they broke the scoreless deadlock 39 seconds into the middle period. Patrick Sharp sent a pass to a cutting Hossa in the slot, and the Slovakian patiently held the puck before getting Hiller to commit and tucking it around him for his ninth goal in 13 games.
Anaheim had a 15-3 edge in shots early on, thanks in part to a 5-on-3 advantage for 40 seconds in the first period, but Crawford was immense during the short-handed situation - denying captain Ryan Getzlaf, defenseman Cam Fowler and Corey Perry. The Ducks also could not convert during a four-minute power play bridging the second and third sessions, and Toews finally sealed it by beating Hiller with 2:31 to play.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Crawford earned his first career shutout against Anaheim on March 5, 2008. ... Hossa has collected three goals and four assists during a five-game point streak, while Sharp reached 30 assists for the fourth time in his career. ... Anaheim recalled RW Emerson Etem, a former first-round pick, and assigned C David Steckel to Norfolk of the American Hockey League. ... Blackhawks D Johnny Oduya sat out the contest with a lower-body injury, while Ducks C Nick Bonino (upper body) was sidelined for his third straight game.